Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Free Trade Agreements: US and Japan

Thursday 18 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Patricia Gibson asked about recent progress on negotiating free trade agreements with the US and Japan.
  • The Secretary of State confirmed negotiations have been launched with both countries.
  • Concerns were raised about the potential lifting of bans on chlorine washes in food imports.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP North Ayrshire and Arran
Business & Trade
Context

MP Patricia Gibson inquired about recent progress on free trade negotiations between the UK and both countries.

Question

What recent progress has been made on negotiating free trade agreements with the United States of America and Japan?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

We have launched negotiations with both the US and Japan. We want to secure ambitious trade deals that benefit every part of the United Kingdom. Scotland is expected to be a particularly strong beneficiary from those deals.

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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP North Ayrshire and Arran
Brexit Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

MP Patricia Gibson expressed concerns about the potential lifting of the ban on chlorine washes over food as part of future trade agreements.

Question

Despite what the Secretary of State said in response to previous questions, there are persistent concerns about the lifting of the ban on pathogen reduction treatments, which would permit chlorine washes over food as part of future trade deals. That would be bad for us and bad for animal welfare. To address those concerns once and for all, will the Secretary of State commit to enshrining minimum food standards into law? If she will not, will she devolve the necessary powers to Scotland to allow us to do it for ourselves?

Answer from Elizabeth Truss (The Secretary of State for International Trade)

I would point out that Scotland has its own food standards agency, which is responsible for upholding food standards in Scotland. I would also point out that the standards already are in the law and will continue to be in the law.

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